Well hello there. You join us back in Cowdenbeath where season 7 is following a similar path to the previous few seasons, as we sit snugly in behind the Old Firm. By snugly I of course mean nowhere even close to them with a lot of work to do. So let’s try and do it…

An immediate matter is our Cup Winners Cup tie with Club Brugge. They’re a tough test to say the least and peg us back to 2-2 but Rod Wallace ensures we head to Belgium with something to defend.

It’s a rare easy away day at Hibs as Barmby seems to have developed a taste for being useful. Dale is also at the double and points are points.

It is now at the point where Celtic dropping points to anybody other than Rangers gives me a tickle in the undercarriage.

No tickling here though as any little ground made up is eradicated with a limp home defeat. It’s an eternal sinking feeling.

Siri, show me a low point. We’re 5-3 up on aggregate with two minutes to play only to end up conceding two goals that eventually takes the tie to penalties. Despite both sides missing their first two penalties and scoring their next 5, goalkeeper Bull smashes over the bar and we lose. Solano should probably take the blame as his dismissal means we play 105 minutes with 10 men.

Two days later and Ibrox is not where I want to be. Defeated again.

Just when you think things can’t get worse, Sporting want lovely Abadia. He will be sorely missed.

I do at least get this guy in exchange.

Big club release claims another victim.

After the International break we have had time to reflect. We are straight back into the groove with our best performance for a while. Alloa can’t handle the Weah Regen

Right wingbacks are the order of the day. The problem remains that nobody really likes us and we’re scraping around in not even the bargain bin. We’re in CEX. Everything is sticky. Gualco is £70k.

Dyer is £300k. We know he has potential at the start of the game but 7 seasons in I suspect that potential has dissipated.

Heldal comes highly rated by the scouts. He’s asked for a big club release clause which, although annoying, usually means he is useful.

Back on the pitch and Motherwell are eased aside. We need momentum.

Hmm and we might have it. Even Fotiadis getting a 6 week injury doesn’t wipe the smile from my decrepit old face.

Oh, hello.

The feel good factor is dangerously high as we embark on a lark at Starks’ Park. Mowgli hasn’t been in form like this since he lined up with the Elephants. In a military style…

The Old Firm goes the way of Rangers, which is superb news.

Partick Thistle are the next to be Beathed (it’s a thing). Mowgli is kept quiet but Harold Lozano is also in decent form.

Happy Christmas.

Put them under pressure.

Hearts can’t stop this freight train. We are in the rarest of form at the minute.

So much so we lead twice at Ibrox in the Super Cup before eventually losing to Rui Costa. The second leg might be decent.

Hibs have a proper go at us and a goals filled first half sees us get the odd goal in 5. Billy Mac gets sent off in an attempt to even things up but we hold on.

We head to Celtic Park on top of our game and full of confidence. Bjorn gives us the lead but a quickfire double before half time would usually signal the end for us. At half time I tell the lads I’ve had enough of finishing 3rd and if they want people to continue reading about their adventures they need to find something and beat these buggers. Four minutes later, we lead 3-2. Even Barmby is good. Stop everything.

Aye well

Let’s just screenshot this and pretend there aren’t 16 games to go.

Whatever it is, it’s catching

With one of the two threats out of the way, I still feel like it’s worth taking a risk against 3rd tier opposition and rotate most of the team. It’s a tricky afternoon but we’re in the 4th round hat and the lads are rested for Super Duper Cup action.

I knew he’d be good. This will be a £800k profit in a little over 2 months.

The squad is wrecked for the 2nd leg. Lampard as a wing back? Do me a favour.

Still, we can field 11 players so there’s hope, needing to overturn that 3-2 deficit. I’m not too disheartened when we concede after three minutes knowing that 2-1 will be enough for us. Weah Junior equalises but that magical 2-1 doesn’t transpire and we fail.

Heldal departs, money in the bank.

We finish January and indeed this update at Alloa. They might have knocked Rangers out of the cup but they can’t handle Dale, who plays his one good game in 4 at a great time.

15 games remain next week and we hold a one point advantage over Celtic in the race for Champions League football. The more optimistic amongst you will say we are only 12 points behind Rangers…but they are unbeaten and have been breached a total of 7 times.

We are at least outscoring everybody. We have to get in the top two, we won’t improve our reputation unless we can start playing with Europe’s elite. For once, we have the upper hand in that race which is why I know you’ll be back next Sunday to see if we can pull off the unthinkable. See you then!